Self-contained irrigation polishing system

ABSTRACT

A self-contained water polishing system includes at least a first containment basin that has an inlet for inflow of water from a collection source and contains calcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through the system; at least a first polishing basin in communication with the containment basin and that contains at least a first pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowing through the system; and a vacuum pumping system in fluid communication with the containment and polishing basins that draws water through the polishing system.

CROSS REFERENCES

This application is a continuation-in-part application of priornon-provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/219,080 entitledSelf-Contained Irrigation Polishing System, filed on Aug. 26, 2011, nowallowed. The disclosure of application Ser. No. 13/219,080 isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to water treatment and, moreparticularly, to a scalable water polishing system for storm waterrun-off and waterways.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the immediate future, clean water availability will become a moreimportant issue than the availability of oil. Estimates have been madethat in only twenty years China will only have enough clean water for20% of its population. Every aspect of society has a cost that isdirectly related to clean water. An effective means to clean waterwaysis required. This need is urgent, and the cost of taking actionescalates every day. The economic interests of communities are seriouslyimpacted by this need. It is not uncommon for industries to employ waterexperts to evaluate future alternative sites based on the quality andquantity of water.

Evapotranspiration

Solar heating is the energy input from the sun that drives thehydrologic cycle (sometimes referred to as “evapotranspiration”) byevaporating water from oceans and rivers and depositing precipitation onland as rain and snow. FIG. 1 presents an illustrative diagram of thecycle of evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration and solar heat arecentral to all water movement, along with gravity, wind, and therotation of the earth. With the rotation of the earth, water is moveddepending on the hemisphere in a certain direction. In the northernhemisphere, water moves in a counter-clockwise motion, while it moves ina clockwise motion in the southern hemisphere.

All fresh water in the world moves continuously in a closed-loop system.No new water is created. Water from precipitation becomes surface waterin lakes and rivers. This surface water seeps into the ground to becomegroundwater. Groundwater, in turn, also feeds surface water. Watercirculates from sky to land to ocean and back again. This is theevapotranspiration closed-loop system. With water movement withinevapotranspiration, only so much water is available for human use.Annual discharge of the world's water from land to oceans varies, but40,000 km3 per year is typical. Only 12,500 km3 of runoff is availablefor human consumption because the majority of runoff occurs in lightlypopulated areas or seasonal flood plains. Of this 12,500 km3, about 43%is estimated to already be polluted. This means that although two-thirdsof our planet is covered in water, only about 5,375 km3—about 13%—of theworld's water is available and suitable for human consumption. As istrue for all organisms, large amounts of fresh clean water are necessaryfor survival of a species.

Stream Characteristics

Stream characteristics effect pollution and clean-up. Water movement andflow, sediment, temperature, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water chemistryare critical stream characteristics that have to be in complete harmony.Water movement is of three types in a stream. These are: (a) turbulence,which occurs in open water, (b) laminar, which is more common close tosolid surfaces or in the pores of sediment and silt, and (c) molecular,which also is termed Brownian motion.

Water flow and discharge in a stream is determined by the formula Q=wdv.Water flow (Q) is equal to the width (w) of the stream multiplied by thedepth (d) and velocity (v) of the stream. Stream flow is the amount ofwater flowing down a stream or river. “Instream flow” is the term thatdefines the flow levels in a stream necessary to protect the aquaticbiota of an individual stream. Instream flow is a specific numbermeasured in cubic feet per second (CFS) for a given stream on amonth-by-month basis. This number becomes a water right for a specificstream. This regulatory number can be used by ecologists to determine ifa stream has sufficient water for new water use. The flow ratecontributes to the beauty of a stream, influences ground water levels,as well as other surface water levels in ponds, lakes, and wetlandareas. If the water in the stream is good for fish, then it will besuitable for humans.

Stream studies use either the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology(IFIM) or the Toe-width Method, which uses stream bank measurements tostudy stream flow, to measure instream flow. After establishing the meanannual flow (MAF) of a stream, the Tennant method can be used forenvironmental flow assessment of a stream. Riffles in a stream have thehighest area of macro-invertebrate production and are the first areas togo dry. This implication from low riffle discharge means low food supplyand oxygen for the stream biota. The relationship between discharge andwetted perimeters is estimated often for riffles because of the highconcentration of macro-invertebrate production in these areas.

Sediment is naturally-occurring material formed by the processes ofweathering or erosion and settles on the banks and the bottom of a bodyof water. It can be classified into three zones: erosion, transfer, anddeposition. Erosion begins at the start of a stream. Transfer occurs inthe middle of the stream, and deposition of sediment is found at the endof the stream (e.g. Mississippi Delta). “The supply and transport ofsediments in a stream are important because they strongly influence thechannel dynamics, affect habitat quality experienced by the biota, andcan be extremely costly to manage.” See Allan and Castillo (2009).Sediment is a source of chronic, often dangerous, pollution (e.g. heavymetals) resulting in stream water quality that will be costly for humansas well as affecting the infrastructure of the stream.

Water temperature is expressed in several units (K, Kelvin; ° C.,Celsius; ° F., Fahrenheit). The temperature range in a stream foraquatic viability is between 40° F. and 80° F. at the highest. Manyinvertebrates and vertebrates such as dipteran larvae, midges, browntrout, and other cold water fish cannot live in temperatures above 80°F. The ideal temperature for a healthy stream is 57.5° F. all yearround.

Water chemistry is yet another important characteristic affecting cleanup. Rain is an acid with a pH near 5.7 because of its carbon dioxidecontent and naturally occurring sulfate. In addition, humic acid fromdecaying plant matter caused a decrease in pH rainwater runoff rangingfrom 4-5. In urban areas, runoff of salts and other de-icing compoundsapplied to roads can greatly elevate the salinity of receivingwaterways, causing large fluctuations in pH.

Prior Art

While there are several systems for water treatment in the prior art,these systems are not scalable to handle applications of varying sizing;are not capable of handling the volumes of water necessary toeffectively manage streams and rivers; and do not effectively managewater pH levels.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,227 to Pavlis describes an irrigation systemdesigned to address hard water, which damages irrigation systems. Rainwater has a pH of approximately 5.7. By filtering rain water withpalladium and then an alloy of copper, tin, nickel, and zinc, the waterpH is lowered to below 6.4, which prevents precipitation of calciumcarbonate downstream of the system. While suitable for irrigationsystems, the water produced by the system is detrimental to maintaininga beneficial environment for aquatic life.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,203 to Helm describes a wastewater treatment thatutilizes filtering media, bacteria, and capillary action to processwater passing through the system. It is designed for treatment ofwasterwater rather than storm water or streams and rivers and is notcapable of treating water at the volumes and rates necessary for stormwater, stream, or river applications.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,997,568, 5,281,332, and 5,632,896 to Vandervelde et al.describe various systems that utilize conical sand filters for watertreatment. Water percolates up through the systems. These systems arealso incapable of treating water at the volumes and rates necessary forstorm water, stream, or river applications.

Thus, there is a need for a flexible and scalable system for treatmentof storm water runoff as well as stream/river water treatment thatremoves harmful pollutants, eliminates undesirable chemicals, andmanages both oxygen and pH levels to enhance the water's suitability forfish and other aquatic life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention generally pertains to a flexible system forpolishing storm water run off and stream and river water beforereturning it to a stream or river.

Another aspect of the invention pertains to a scalable water treatmentsystem that can be adapted to applications of a variety of sizes.

Another aspect of the invention pertains to a system for treating stormwater runoff and stream and river water that removes harmful pollutants,eliminates undesirable chemicals, and manages both oxygen and pH levelsto enhance the water's suitability for fish and other aquatic life.

In accordance with one or more of the above aspects of the invention,there is provided a self-contained water polishing system that includesat least a first containment basin that has an inlet for inflow of waterfrom a collection source and contains calcium carbonate for treatment ofwater flowing through the system; at least a first polishing basin incommunication with the containment basin and that contains at least afirst pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowingthrough the system; and a vacuum pumping system in fluid communicationwith the containment and polishing basins that draws water through thepolishing system.

There is also provided a self-contained water polishing system thatincludes a run-off water polishing system having at least one collectioncontainer; a first containment basin lined with calcium carbonate fortreatment of water flowing through the system; a first polishing basinthat contains at least a first pollutant collection substrate fortreatment of water flowing through the system; and a first vacuumpumping system that draws water through the run-off water polishingsystem. The polishing system also includes a flowing water polishingsystem having a collection chamber arranged in the path of a waterway; asecond containment basin lined with calcium carbonate for treatment ofwater flowing through the system; a second polishing basin that containsa second pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowingthrough the system; and a second vacuum pumping system that draws waterthrough the flowing water polishing system.

An associate method of polishing water from run-off or from a waterwayis also provided with the steps of collecting water from run-off or froma waterway; directing that water through at least one containment basinlined with calcium carbonate to increase the pH of the water; directingthe water through at least one polishing basin that contains at leastone pollutant collection substrate; and introducing at least a partialvacuum with a vacuum pumping system to direct the water through thecontainment and polishing basins.

These aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspectsassociated with the present invention and should not be deemed aslimiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantagesof the present invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the referenceddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, whichillustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the inventionand wherein similar reference characters indicate the same partsthroughout the views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the evapotranspiration cycle.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a land system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic section side view of a series of containmentbasins suitable for use in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic section side view of a polishing basin for usewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic section side view of a vacuum pumping system foruse with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a stream system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a pump tank according to anembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a containment basin according to anembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of another containment basin accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of polishing basins and a vacuumpumping system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a mechanical contaminant separationdevice suitable for use in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a truck-based mobile embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a first containment basin or oilsnout truck of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of a pump tank of the embodiment ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of a first polishing basin of theembodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a schematic side view of a vacuum system of the embodiment ofFIG. 12.

FIGS. 17-21 are schematic views of an airplane-based version of theembodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 22 is a schematic side view of a train-based mobile embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a schematic side view of a first containment basin or oilsnout train car for the embodiment of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a schematic side view of a pump tank and water tank for theembodiment of FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is a schematic side view of a first polishing basin and watertank for the embodiment of FIG. 22.

FIG. 26 is a schematic side view of a vacuum pump system for theembodiment of FIG. 22.

FIG. 27 is a schematic side view of a testing car for the embodiment ofFIG. 22.

FIG. 28 is a schematic plan view of a ship-based mobile embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG. 28.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Forexample, the invention is not limited in scope to the particular type ofindustry application depicted in the figures. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been describedin detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

In brief summary, embodiments of the present invention work bycollecting water from runoff and waterways and directing it tocontainment basins (“CBs”). From these CBs, water is pumped under avacuum up to one or more polishing basins. The term “polishing” is usedherein to refer to the removal of harmful pollutants that prevent thegrowth of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms in a stream or body ofwater. By eliminating undesirable chemicals from storm water runoff, thewater is “polished”. In each PB, there are substrate bags that holddifferent substrates that are specific for different impurities in thepolluted water. After passing through the PBs, the water may be directedto a central concrete containment tank under vacuum where the water canbe tested for specific impurities. In some embodiments, the water isthen guided to either an open air concrete fish tank loaded withdifferent species of fish or expelled and exposed to limestone rock.

In those embodiments in which polished water is directed to a fish tankto be tested for quality, the fish operate as a control mechanism totest the polished water for any chemical pollutants and to see if thewater can sustain vertebrate and invertebrate growth. After polishing,the water has 8-10 parts per million (ppm) O₂ and a pH of 6.0-7.8.

Embodiments of the present invention work as two continuous closed-loopsystems in two different aspects (land and stream) of the hydrologiccycle. In the land system, water is moved from the surface as stormwater to underground concrete containment basins that will go through avacuum polishing process before it is released from the property intothe stream. The stream system takes stream water and pumps it throughour polishing process. Half of the polished water is put back into thestream as cleaner water and the other half is further polished and isplaced back into the stream as ecologically clean water. These twosystems are both continuous polishing loops.

The described embodiment of the present invention incorporates thebicarbonate buffer system (CO₂—HCO₃ ⁻—CO₃ ²⁻) where dissolved CO₂ reactswith H₂O to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), a weak inorganic acid thatoccurs at low concentrations relative to unhydrated CO₂ at pH<8. H₂CO₃further dissociates to form hydrogen (H+), bicarbonate (HCO₃ ⁻), andcarbonate (CO₃ ²⁻) ions:

Carbonate ions react with water, forming hydroxyl ions (OH—). When thenatural content of carbonate rocks is high, such as sedimentary rocksfound in the earth's surface, these reactions result in sufficienthydroxyl ions to produce alkaline water. This reaction is referred to asa bicarbonate buffer system because it resists change in pH. However, asthe carbonate ions dissipate, the pH of the water will begin to lower.

Rain is an acid with a pH near 5.7 because of its carbon dioxide contentand naturally occurring sulfate. Also, humic acid in decaying plantmatter causes a decrease in pH in rainwater runoff ranging from 4-5. Inurban areas, runoff of salts and other de-icing compounds applied toroads can greatly elevate the salinity of receiving waters, causinglarge fluctuations of pH in a short time. The present invention isadvantageously based upon the following formula:

By adding CaCO₃ (limestone) rock to the system, unidentified pollutantsand street salt will be converted to sodium bicarbonates/carbonates,calcium chloride, and sodium hydroxide which will act to increase the pHto 6.0-7.8 and cause the pollutants in the storm water runoff to beprecipitated. As the pH increases, the ability of vertebrates andinvertebrates to survive greatly increases.

FIGS. 2-5 schematically illustrate a land system embodiment of theinvention. This system addresses run-off, storm water, and water fallingfrom the roofs of buildings. This water is drained into one or moresmall scale CBs 102. Each CB is partially filled with limestone. Wateris guided from the small scale CB 102 to one or more large CBs 104. Inpreferred embodiments, a series of large CBs 104 is used.

The water flow from the last CB may be divided in half and diverted indifferent directions. In such embodiments, half of the water is exposedto additional limestone prior to be diverted into a stream, river orother body of water. The remaining water is directed by a vacuum pumpingsystem 106 to an additional CB, which is also partially filled withlimestone. The water is then moved from the additional CB to one or aPBs 108, each of which is provided with one or more substrates forfurther polishing of the water. From this point, the water may again bediverted into two separate directions. In the first direction, water isdirected to the previously referenced body of water, via a final passover a limestone surface. In the second direction, the water is guidedinto a fish tank for testing on local fish species for systemeffectiveness monitoring.

The basic layout of the CBs 104 is illustrated schematically in FIGS. 4and 5. Each CB 104 is essentially a rectangular container, preferablyformed of concrete. Each CB 104 will have an inlet 110 and an outlet112. Where a series of CBs 104 are used, the outlet 112 of a precedingCB 104 is connected to the inlet 110 of the next CB 104 by conduit, forexample PVC piping. In the case of the last CB 104 in a series, or thesole CB 104 if only one is used, the outlet 112 will actually take theform of two exit orifices. The first orifice 114, which may simply be anopening or an opening filled with a grate, directs water to theaforementioned body of water. The second exit orifice 116 directs waterto the vacuum pumping system 106.

The bottom of each CB 104 is lined with limestone rock 111 (CaCO₃), thepurposed of which is described supra. Each CB 104 is also provided witha pump 118 to move water from the interior of the CB 104 out of itsoutlet 112. In addition, the CBs 104 may be provided with varyingsubstrates 113 designed to attract and absorb particular contaminants,for example oil or antifreeze.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a PB 108 for use in the land system. Aswith the CBs 104, each PB is a rectangular container or tank, preferablyformed from concrete, with an inlet 120 and an outlet 122. Each PB 108also includes a center baffle wall 124. The center baffle wall 124divides the interior of the PB 108 into two parts and is provided withan opening therein to allow water to flow from one part of the interiorto the other. The opening is preferably at a relatively high point ofthe baffle wall 124. In a preferred embodiment, the PB 108 is providedwith a plumbing conduit 125—schematically indicated in FIG. 4—whichpositively directs water through the PB 108 from one part of theinterior, through the opening in the baffle 124, into the second part ofthe PB interior, and out through the outlet 122. In either case, thewater is exposed to one or more substrates 127 as it passes through thePB interior. The substrates 127 are selected to address specificcontaminants relevant to the local environment.

As noted previously, water from the CBs 104 is directed to the PBs 108by virtue of the vacuum pumping system 106. The vacuum pumping system106 creates a vacuum throughout the PBs 108 to draw water through thosecontainers. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an exemplary vacuum pumpingsystem. The vacuum pumping system 106 includes a vacuum tank 130 havingan inlet 132 that communicates with the outlet of the last PB 108. Anoutlet pipe 134 allows water to flow from the vacuum tank 130. A vacuumpump 140 is located in the outlet pipe 134. The vacuum pump 140 iscontrolled by a switch 142 located in the vacuum tank 130. The outletpipe leads to both a water outlet valve 148 and an inlet to a separatortank 138 via a T-connection. Another conduit leads from the separatortank 138 back to the vacuum tank 130. The separator tank 138 is providedwith a bleed valve 144 that is operated by a switch 146 in the separatortank 138. The water outlet valve 148 is also controlled by a switch 150.

Each of the switches 142, 146, 150 referenced above is an anode/cathodeswitch in the illustrated embodiment. The switch is opened or closed bycontact of the anode or cathode of the switch with water in the systemas described below.

The vacuum pumping system 106 described above operates in the followingmanner. Water is drawn into the vacuum tank 130 by operation of thevacuum pump 140 and gravity. At this time, the water outlet valve 148 isclosed to prevent water from exiting the vacuum pumping system. Thisallows water to build up in the vacuum tank 130 and the separator tank138. As water flows into the separator tank, it contacts the bleed valveswitch 146 anode, which opens the bleed valve 144 to allow air in thevacuum pumping system 106 to escape to atmosphere. Water in theseparator tank 138 flows through the connecting conduit back to thevacuum tank 130, but at a rate slower than the rate of flow into theseparator tank 138. The water level in the separator tank 138 thus risesand contacts the cathode of the bleed valve switch 146 to close thebleed valve 144. Air in the system is released through the stand pipe136, and a vacuum in the system is created. As water continues to buildin the vacuum tank 130, it reaches the cathode of the water outlet valveswitch 150, resulting in the water outlet valve 148 being opened andallowing water to flow out of the vacuum tank 130 until the water levelin the tank 130 drops below the cathode of the valve switch 150, whichcloses the water outlet valve 148 and allows water to build up onceagain within the vacuum tank 130.

FIGS. 6-10 schematically illustrate a “stream” system embodiment of theinvention. It should be appreciated that the foregoing reference to“stream” is solely for the sake of convenience and that the describedembodiment is intended for use with other waterways, such as rivers,tributaries, lakes, etc. This system draws water from the waterway forpolishing before returning it to the waterway farther downstream. Acollection chamber 200 collects water from the waterway. A grate 202 atthe front of the collection chamber 200 serves as a rough filter tominimize entry of large debris into the system. Further, in a preferredembodiment, the grate 202 is positioned at roughly a 45° angle to theflow direction of the waterway to further minimize blockage by largedebris. The collection chamber 200 directs water from the waterway to aholding tank 204. Entry into the holding tank 204 is controlled bylevered doors 206, which allow the flow rate into the holding tank 204to be regulated by raising and lowering the doors 206 to specificheights.

The holding tank 204 is provided with a controlled drain that allowswater to flow to a pump tank 208. The water is moved from the pump tank208 to one or a series of CBs 210 containing limestone 212 and, in someembodiments, other substrates. From the final CB 210, water is directedeither back to the stream or to PBs 214 for further processing beforebeing returned to the waterway.

The pump tank 208 includes an inlet 222 to allow the flow of water fromthe holding tank 204. The pump tank 208 may be divided into two or morecompartments 216 by a combination of baffles 218 and debris dividers220. The debris dividers 220 are advantageously arranged to collectsmaller debris. In a preferred embodiment, the debris dividers 220 arestainless steel. Limestone 212 may be provided in the final compartmentof the pump tank 208. The pump tank 208 is further provided with anoutlet 224 and a water pump 226 in communication with the outlet 224 todraw water from the pump tank 208 and pass it to the CBs 210. In oneembodiment, the pump 226 is a 30 hp, 3-phase pump.

The CBs 210 to which the water flows next are similar in structure tothose described in the land system. Again, the preferred constructionfor these CBs 210 is concrete, although there are numerous suitablealternate materials. Like the pump tank 208, the CBs 210 are dividedinto two or more compartments 228 through the use of baffles 230 anddebris dividers 232. Each of the compartments 228 is lined withlimestone 212. In addition, one or more compartments 228 may be providedwith substrates 234 for collecting specific impurities, such as oil andanti-freeze. The substrate 234 may be contained within a bag or otherstructure. In preferred embodiments, there is a manhole 236 in the topsurface of the CB 210 above each compartment 228 for cleaning andmaintenance. In the final CB 210—shown in FIG. 9, the outlet 224includes first 238 and second 240 exit orifices. The first orifice 238is connected with a conduit to deliver water back to the waterway. Thesecond exit orifice 240 directs water to the PBs 214.

FIG. 10 provides a schematic illustration of a series of PBs 214 thatmay be used in various embodiments of the system. As can be readily seenfrom the illustration, the PBs 214 of the stream system utilize a basicstructure that is similar to that of the land system PBs in that each PB214 may be divided into two compartments 242 by a roughly central bafflewall 244. Each compartment 242 may be provided with an allocation oflimestone 212 or a pollutant collection substrate 234. In theillustrated embodiment, the final PB 214 is provided with a singlecompartment filled with limestone 212 for final polishing.

As indicated in FIG. 10, water is moved through the PBs 214 by virtue ofa vacuum pumping system 250. The vacuum pumping system 250 of theillustrated stream system embodiment is essentially identical instructure and function to the land system vacuum pump described above.

In preferred embodiments of both the stream and land systems describedabove the outlets of the various containment and polishing basins areprovided with a mechanical contaminant separation device 300, an exampleof which is illustrated in FIG. 11. The separation device 300 includes ahousing 302 that is secured to the wall of the basin surrounding thebasin outlet. The housing 302 is provided with an open bottom 304. Thehousing 302 is arranged such that it extends below the water line withinthe basin by at least several inches. This arrangement allows water toenter the housing 302 only through the open bottom 304. Furthermore,water from the top few inches of the basin, which contains a majority ofcontaminants as they tend to float to the surface, is prevented fromflowing through the basin outlet. Thus, the device 300 trapscontaminants within the basin while allowing cleaner water to pass tothe basin outlet. The contaminants can be skimmed from the surface ofthe water in the basin periodically. The housing 302 also has a ventopening 306 at the top of the housing to prevent a siphon from formingin the system.

In addition, the device 300 may include an anti-microbial skirt 308 thatsurrounds the open bottom 304 of the housing 302. The anti-microbialproperties of the skirt 308 reduce bacteria in the water, while theskirt 308 adsorbs hydrocarbons from the water. The skirt 308 can bereplaced periodically as it becomes fully saturated with contaminants.

An example of a suitable housing 302 and anti-microbial skirt 308 arethe Best Management Products SNOUT® and BIO-SKIRT®. These exemplaryproducts are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,126,817 and 7,857,966, whichare each incorporated by reference herein.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that one of the inherentadvantages of the present invention is its adaptability for differentapplications and size requirements. The system described herein may bescaled up or down in size for use in single lot, commercial development,or whole city applications. While the land and stream systems may beutilized in combination, either system may be used in isolation as well.

The present invention is also amenable to mobile administration andapplication, and several exemplary embodiments of mobile systemsincorporating the system are now described.

FIGS. 12-18 describe a truck-based embodiment of the system. Theillustrated embodiment is shown in the context of a shale gas operationin which hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is utilized. Fracking is usedto increase or restore the rate at which fluids, such as petroleum,water, or natural gas can be produced from subterranean naturalreservoirs. A hydraulic fracture is formed by pumping the fracturingfluid into the wellbore at a rate sufficient to increase the pressuredownhole to exceed that of the fracture gradient (pressure gradient) ofthe rock. The fluid injected into the rock is typically a slurry ofwater, proppants, and chemical additives. Additionally, gels, foams, andcompressed gases, including nitrogen, carbon dioxide and air can beinjected. Typically, the fracturing fluid is composed of over 98-99.5%water and sand with additional chemicals accounting to about 0.5%.Fracking requires large amounts of water, and the process has raisednumerous environmental questions as to the impact on local water tablesas well as run-off water. The present invention is uniquely situated toaddress at least some of these issues.

FIG. 12 presents a schematic overview of a mobile, truck-basedembodiment consisting of a series of units housed within trailers thatmay be towed to any desired site and interconnected as shown. Theillustrated embodiment utilizes an oil snout truck 402 or firstcontainment basin that initially receives fracking fluid recovered froma shale gas well. A schematic of the interior of the oil snout truck 402is shown in FIG. 13. The oil snout truck 402 serves two primarypurposes: to allow sand and other sediment in the fracking fluid toprecipitate out of the fluid and collect within the truck's tank and tobegin removing contaminants within the fluid by means of a separationdevice 404. The separation device 404 may be of a similar design andfunction as the device 300 illustrated in FIG. 11 and discussed in moredetail above.

From the oil snout truck 402, the fracking fluid is passed to a pumptruck 410. The pump truck 410 is essentially a mobile version of thepump tank 208 illustrated in FIG. 7 and described above. The pump truck410 includes an inlet 412 to allow the flow of fracking water from theoil snout truck 402. The pump truck 410 may be divided into two or morecompartments 414 by a combination of baffles 416 and debris dividers418. The debris dividers 418 are advantageously arranged to collectsmaller debris. In a preferred embodiment, the debris dividers 418 arestainless steel. Limestone 420 may be provided in the final compartmentof the pump truck 410. The pump truck 410 is further provided with anoutlet 422 and a water pump 424 in communication with the outlet 422 todraw water from the pump truck 410 and pass it to a series of mobilepolishing basins 428. In one embodiment, the pump 424 is a 30 hp,3-phase pump. In a preferred embodiment, one or more water trucks 426are interconnected with the pump truck 410 to supply a flow of freshwater into the pump truck 410.

The mobile polishing basins 428 to which the water flows next aresimilar in structure to those described in the land and stream systems.Again, the preferred construction for these mobile polishing basins 428is concrete, although there are numerous suitable alternate materials.Like the pump truck 410, the mobile polishing basins 428 are dividedinto two or more compartments 430 through the use of baffles 432 anddebris dividers 434. Each of the compartments 430 is lined withlimestone 420. In addition, one or more compartments 430 may be providedwith substrates 436 for collecting specific impurities. The substrate436 may be contained within a bag or other structure. In preferredembodiments, there is a manhole 438 in the top surface of the mobilepolishing basins 428 above each compartment 430 for cleaning andmaintenance. The final compartment 430 is provided with an outlet 440.

As indicated in FIGS. 12 and 16, water is moved through mobile system byvirtue of a vacuum pumping truck 442. The vacuum pumping system withinthe truck 442 is essentially identical in structure and function to theland and stream system vacuum pumps described above.

In some embodiments of the mobile system, treated water flows from theoutlet of the vacuum pump truck 442 to a testing truck 444 where samplesof the treated water may be tested for pH levels and unfilteredpollutants.

From the testing truck 444, the water may simply be directed to a nearbystream, water, or reservoir or rerouted for reuse in the frackingoperation. Alternately, the treated water may be directed to a watertank truck 446 in which it can be transported for use elsewhere.Alternately, a fish tank truck 448 may be utilized for further testingof the treated water by exposing fish to the water.

FIGS. 17-21 illustrate that the above described containers are capableof being transported by air to any location in the world, including foremergency water relief, natural disasters, etc.

FIGS. 22-27 schematically illustrate a train car-based embodiment of thesystem used to clean water from a river or stream. As in the truck-basedembodiment previously described, the current embodiment starts with anoil snout car 502 that receives water from the river or stream beingcleaned. A schematic of the interior of the oil snout truck 502 is shownin FIG. 18. The oil snout car 502 serves two primary purposes: to allowsediment in the water to precipitate out and collect within the car'stank and to begin removing contaminants within the fluid by means of aseparation device 504. The separation device 504 may be of a similardesign and function as the device 300 illustrated in FIG. 11 anddiscussed in more detail above.

From the oil snout car 504, the water is passed to a pump car 510.Again, the pump car 510 is a mobile version of the pump tank 208illustrated in FIG. 7 and described above. The pump car 510 includes aninlet 512 to allow the flow of water from the oil snout car 502. Thepump car 510 may be divided into two or more compartments 514 by acombination of baffles 516 and debris dividers 518. The debris dividers518 are advantageously arranged to collect smaller debris. In apreferred embodiment, the debris dividers 518 are stainless steel.Limestone 520 may be provided in the final compartment of the pump car510. The pump car 510 is further provided with an outlet 522 and a waterpump 524 in communication with the outlet 522 to draw water from thepump car 510 and pass it to a series of mobile polishing basins 528. Inone embodiment, the pump 524 is a 30 hp, 3-phase pump.

In a preferred embodiment, a water tank 526 is piggybacked on top of thepump car 510 to supply a flow of clean water into the pump car 510. Theclean water filling the water tank 526 is provided by the processitself. Water tanks 526 may be piggybacked on top of each of the mobilepolishing basins 528 and interconnected with one another. Clean waterpassing out of the system is stored in the water tanks 526.

The mobile polishing basins 528 to which the water flows next aresimilar in structure to those described in the land and stream systems.Again, the preferred construction for these mobile polishing basins 528is concrete, although there are numerous suitable alternate materials.Like the pump car 510, the mobile polishing basins 528 are divided intotwo or more compartments 530 through the use of baffles 532 and debrisdividers 534. Each of the compartments 530 is lined with limestone 520.In addition, one or more compartments 530 may be provided withsubstrates 536 for collecting specific impurities. The substrate 536 maybe contained within a bag or other structure. In preferred embodiments,there is a manhole 538 in the top surface of the mobile polishing basin528 above each compartment 530 for cleaning and maintenance. The finalcompartment 530 is provided with an outlet 540.

As indicated in FIGS. 17 and 21, water is moved through mobile system byvirtue of a vacuum pumping car 542. The vacuum pumping system within thecar 542 is essentially identical in structure and function to the landand stream system vacuum pumps described above.

In some embodiments of the mobile system, treated water flows from theoutlet of the vacuum pump car 542 to a testing truck 544 where samplesof the treated water may be tested for pH levels and unfilteredpollutants. The testing car 544 may be directed to a water storage tank,to a testing station, or to a fish tank for further testing of thetreated water by exposing fish to the water.

FIGS. 28 and 29 schematically illustrate a ship-based embodiment for usein rivers or larger bodies of water such as lakes and oceans. The systemreceives polluted water that may contain oil, debris, and decayingmatter and returns clean water to the source. The system works with bothfresh water, which has a pH that ranges from 6.0 to 7.8, and oceansaltwater, which has a pH ranging from 7.2 to 7.8. Advantageously, thecomponents of the system described below can be pre-built andsubsequently installed into a ship anywhere in the world.

With respect to the pH of water, it is of interest that water is capableof being an acid or a base and can react with itself. This can berepresented by the formula: H₂O+H₂O<->H₃O+OH⁻. Pure water at 25° C. isat an equilibrium constant that is represented by the symbol Kw. In thefollowing reaction: Kw=[H₃O⁺][OH⁻]=1.0×10⁻¹⁴ at 25° C., the Kw isreferred to as the Ion Product Constant for Water. Since the water ispure, the concentration of hydronium [H₃O⁻] and hydroxide [OH⁻] is in a1:1 ratio. Therefore, the following formula holds true:[H₃O⁺]=[OH⁻]=√Kw=1.0×10⁻⁷ M. Solutions where this equation is true areneutral (pH=7). Solutions in which [H₃O⁺]>[OH⁻] are acidic (pH<7).Solutions in which [H₃O⁺]<[OH⁻] are basic (pH>7).

For fresh water in streams and rivers, the ideal characteristics are (i)a pH of 6.0-7.8, (ii) an oxygen level of 8-12 ppm/liter, (iii) atemperature of 57.5° F., (iv) an amount of light passing into the waterthat provides for good photosynthesis, and (v) no pollutants. For oceanwater, the desired characteristics are (i) a pH of 7.2-8.2, (ii) anoxygen level of 8-12 ppm/liter, and (iii) no pollutants. The idealtemperature and light levels for ocean water will vary greatly dependingon the depth of the water and the species of flora and fauna involved.

FIG. 23 illustrates a top view of the system, while FIG. 24 provides aside view. Again, the basic components of this embodiment are quitesimilar to corresponding components of the other described embodiments.An oil snout/debris collection compartment 602 receives water from theriver or ocean being cleaned. Once again, the oil snout compartment 602serves two primary purposes: to allow sediment in the water toprecipitate out and collect within the compartment's tank and to beginremoving contaminants within the fluid by means of a separation device604. The separation device 604 may be of a similar design and functionas the device 300 illustrated in FIG. 11 and discussed in more detailabove.

One unique aspect of the ship-based embodiment is the use of a seconddebris collection compartment 603. The second debris collectioncompartment 603 accommodates the larger amount of debris frequentlyencountered in larger bodies of water. The outlet from the debriscollection compartment 603 to the pump compartment 610 is provided witha backflow preventer 607.

From the second debris collection compartment 603, the water is passedto a pump compartment 610. Again, the pump compartment 610 is similar tothe pump tank 208 illustrated in FIG. 7 and described above. The pumpcompartment 610 includes an inlet 612 to allow the flow of water fromthe second debris collection compartment 603. Although not shown in FIG.24, the pump compartment 610 may be divided into two or morecompartments by a combination of baffles and debris dividers. Limestone620 may be provided to line the bottom of the pump compartment 610. Thepump compartment 610 is further provided with an outlet 622 and a waterpump 624 in communication with the outlet 622 to draw water from thepump compartment 610 and pass it to a series of mobile polishing basins628. In one embodiment, the pump 524 is a 100 hp pump, for example madeby Grundfos®. The outlet 622 of the pump compartment 610 is alsoprovided with a backflow preventer 607.

The mobile polishing basins 628 to which the water flows next aresimilar in structure to those described in the preceding embodiments.Again, the preferred construction for these mobile polishing basins 628is concrete, although there are numerous suitable alternate materials.The mobile polishing basins 628 may be divided into two or morecompartments through the use of baffles and debris dividers. Each of themobile polishing basins 628 is lined with limestone 620. In addition,the mobile polishing basins may be provided with one or more substrates538 for collecting specific impurities. The substrate 538 may becontained within a bag or other structure. In preferred embodiments,there is a manhole in the top surface of the mobile polishing basin 628for cleaning and maintenance. Each mobile polishing basins is providedwith an outlet 640 to allow water to flow to the next mobile polishingbasin or to the vacuum pump compartment 642.

Water is moved through mobile system by virtue of the vacuum pumpingcompartment 642. The vacuum pumping system within the compartment 642 isagain essentially identical in structure and function to the otherembodiments described above.

In some embodiments of the ship-based embodiment, treated water flowsfrom the outlet of the vacuum pump compartment 642 to a testingcompartment 644 where samples of the treated water may be tested for pHlevels and unfiltered pollutants. The testing compartment 644 may bedirected to a water storage tank, to a testing station, or to a fishtank for further testing of the treated water by exposing fish to thewater. Treated water is then released back into body of water undergoingtreatment.

The preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above toexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in thebest mode known to the inventors. However, as various modificationscould be made in the constructions and methods herein described andillustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shownin the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative ratherthan limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present inventionshould not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims appendedhereto and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile, self-contained water polishing system,comprising: a first containment basin, said first containment basinhaving an inlet for inflow of water from a collection source andcontaining calcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through saidpolishing system and separation device to remove impurities from thewater; a pump compartment, said pump compartment being in fluidcommunication with said first containment basin and having a pumpoperable to transfer water through an outlet of said pump compartment;at least a first polishing basin, said first polishing basin containingcalcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through said firstpolishing basin and at least a first and second pollutant collectionsubstrate for treatment of water flowing through said polishing system,said at least first polishing basin being in fluid communication withsaid pump compartment; a vacuum pumping system in fluid communicationwith said at least first polishing basin, said pump tank, and said firstcontainment basin and operable to draw water through said polishingsystem, wherein said first containment basin, pump compartment, firstpolishing basin, and vacuum pumping system are located within one ormore means of transportation, wherein said first polishing basin is avertical baffle wall separating an interior of said first polishingbasin into first and second interior compartments, said vertical bafflewall defining at least one opening therein to allow for movement ofwater from said first interior compartment to said second interiorcompartment, and wherein said first pollutant collection substrate ispositioned in said first interior compartment and said second pollutantcollection substrate positioned in said second interior compartment. 2.A mobile, self-contained water polishing system, comprising: a firstcontainment basin, said first containment basin having an inlet forinflow of water from a collection source and containing calciumcarbonate for treatment of water flowing through said polishing systemand separation device to remove impurities from the water; a pumpcompartment, said pump compartment being in fluid communication withsaid first containment basin and having a pump operable to transferwater through an outlet of said pump compartment; at least a firstpolishing basin, said first polishing basin containing calcium carbonatefor treatment of water flowing through said first polishing basin and atleast a first pollutant collection substrate for treatment of waterflowing through said polishing system, said at least first polishingbasin being in fluid communication with said pump compartment; a vacuumpumping system in fluid communication with said at least first polishingbasin, said pump tank, and said first containment basin and operable todraw water through said polishing system, wherein said first containmentbasin, pump compartment, first polishing basin, and vacuum pumpingsystem are located within one or more means of transportation, whereinsaid separation device surrounds and controls access to an outlet ofsaid first containment basin, and wherein said separation device furthercomprises a housing, said housing surrounding said outlet and extendingbelow a water line within said first compartment; a vent in saidhousing; and an anti-microbial skirt surrounding at least a lowerportion of said housing.